Afghanistan Bomb Kills 5, Including 2 Officials

KABUL — An Afghan official says Taliban insurgents have killed a district mayor and a member of the provincial peace council in two attacks in northern Afghanistan.

A spokesman for Takhar province says a remote-controlled roadside bomb exploded Monday morning. Five people died in the blast, including provincial peace councilor Mohammad Hashim and Abdul Aziz, the mayor of Ishkamesh district.

Both were on their way to the provincial capital of Talagan when the bomb detonated as their vehicle passed. Three other people were killed in the explosion.

Spokesman Faiz Mohammad Tawhedi says insurgent gunmen also attacked the convoy of the same district's police chief and chief administrator, sparking a battle on the road.

He says two Taliban gunmen were killed in the fighting and another was captured. Both officials escaped harm.